Certificate Programs at the School of Visual Concepts

Updated July 2015

Updated July 2016

| We’ve been helping make smarter communicators for 45 years.

Back before people had even heard of portfolio schools or things

like the web and UX training, SVC was preparing people for careers

in design, marketing communications and advertising.Then, as now,

the secret to our success — and ultimately our students’ success

— is having top working pros lead our classes. That way you know

the skills you’re learning are current, correct, and exactly what

hiring managers are looking for.

Certificate Programs at the School of Visual Concepts:

User Experience

Coming in 2017

Visual Design for the WebContent WritingFront End Web Development

Instructor Brandon Geary

Director of Strategy

POSSIBLE

| SVC instruction is provided by a faculty of top working pros.Our instructors are from top agencies, top brands, and top of the org

charts. Many of them have served in leadership positions of

professional organizations, such as the AIGA and American

Advertising Federation.

When you take a class with instructors like these, you’ll not only learn

what’s current, you’ll also make connections that can come in very

handy at job-hunting time. That’s a bonus that’s hard to get from less-

experienced instructors or teachers you barely meet in online classes.

Amy Balliett Founder

Killer Infographics

Tracy Wong Founder & CD WONGDOODY

Matt Diefenbach Co-Founder

Turnstyle Design

Jeff Barlow Creative Manager

Starbucks Global Creative

Devin Liddell Principal Brand Strategist

Teague

Hillary Miller VP, Account Strategy

Hydrogen

Stanley Hainsworth Founder Tether

Jim Copacino Founder

Copacino+Fujikado

Ben Steele Executive CD

REI

Kevin Wick Creative Director

Frog

Ted Leonhardt Founder

The Leonhardt Group

Fiona Remley VP, Dir. of Program Mgmt.

Wunderman

| The advantages of a certificate program from SVC:

> Your instruction will come from top working pros — people

who know their stuff and have excellent industry connections.

> You’ll receive guidance from an industry professional who

will serve as your mentor — an extra level of instruction and

counsel not available to non-program students.> You can take one professional development workshop per

quarter at no charge while going for your certificate.

> You’ll work on assignments for actual clients. While we

can’t promise this 100% of the time, we’ll do our best to give you

the experience of working for real clients. Sometimes the

assignments will be hypothetical, and sometimes they’ll be

intended for use, but they’ll always simulate “real world” life.> You can still have a life, learning while you continue to

work since most SVC classes are taught in the evening.

Instructor Tracy Wong

Founder and CD

WONGDOODY

| How do certificate programs at SVC work?1. To sign up for a certificate program, fill out the application form

at http://bit.ly/1RliiIa.

2. When SVC receives your application, we’ll set up an in-person

or phone interview to confirm that you’ve chosen the right

program, discuss advanced placement, and answer any of your

questions.

3. Upon completion of all your classes, your advisor/mentor will

review your portfolio and/or coursework to verify that you have

successfully earned a certificate of completion and competency.

4. If your tuition is paid in full, you’ll receive a paper certificate of

completion, as well as a digital one from Mozilla Open Badges.

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| SVC Certificate Program FAQ

1. I’m interested. How do I get started?Fill out an online application here and then we’ll get in touch

with you to set up an in-person, phone, or Skype interview so

we can place you in the proper program and discuss any

advanced placement opportunities. There is a one-time non-

refundable $100 registration fee you will be required to pay

after your application is accepted.

2. Is this a full-time program?No. The vast majority of classes meet at night from 6:30 to

9:30 p.m. Classes are held in the evening so students can

keep their day jobs and still have a life.

3. When do programs and classes start?It’s ideal if you start a program during fall quarter, but you can

get started at any time. You’ll want to sit down with your SVC

program advisor to work out course tracks for students

starting during winter, spring, or summer quarters.

4. What are the requirements for attendance?Students need to attend at least 80% of the course sessions

or they will be dropped from the program and given whatever

refund applies at that time.

5. Is financing available?SVC can provide you with a list of third-party loan providers.

6. Can I get permission to waive a course if I already

know the material?Yes. When you conduct your interview for admission to the

program, we’ll help you determine if you can skip any classes

based on your previous instruction or work experience. Your

tuition will be reduced by a pro-rated share.

7. Do you provide job placement services?While SVC doesn’t have an official job placement service,

every student will be mentored by an industry professional.

You will be able to take advantage of your mentor’s contacts

and mentors will provide specific assistance in networking

and job hunting. SVC also publishes an online listing of open

jobs on our website.

8. Are professional organization discounts (AIGA, AAF,

PSAMA, etc.) valid for the certificate program?No. But you will be permitted to take one daytime

professional development workshop at SVC at no charge

during each quarter you’re enrolled in a certificate program.

9. When is tuition due?A $100 registration fee is due upon acceptance into the

program. Then the first 50% of the tuition is due before the

first day of class. The remaining 50% is due at the mid-point

of your program.

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| SVC Certificate Program FAQ

10.What if I cannot finish the program?The State of Washington spells out the exact refund policies

for schools like ours, and here are the details:

You may receive a partial refund of your tuition if you drop a

class or your enrollment is terminated by SVC due to lack of

progress or disciplinary problems. In these cases, this is the

schedule for determining the amount of your refund:

a. SVC will refund all money paid if the student is not

accepted. This includes instances where a class is

cancelled by the school.

b. SVC will refund all the money paid if the student cancels

within five business days (excluding Sundays and holidays)

after registration and/or an initial payment is made, as

long as the student has not begun training.

c. SVC will retain the established $100 registration fee if the

student cancels after the fifth business day after

registration and/or making an initial payment.

d. If training is terminated after the student enters classes,

SVC may retain the registration fee established under (c.)

of this subsection, plus a percentage of the total tuition as

described in the following table:

5-WEEK CLASSES

10-WEEK CLASSES

When calculating refunds, the official date of a student’s termination is the last day of

recorded attendance:(a) When the school receives notice of the student's intention to discontinue the

training program; or,

(b) When the student is terminated for a violation of a published school policy which

provides for termination; or,

(c) When a student, without notice, fails to attend classes for thirty calendar days.

All refunds must be paid within thirty calendar days of the student’s official

termination date.

# of Classes Attended % Tuition Refunded

0 100%

1 75%

2 50%

3+ 0%

# of Classes Attended % Tuition Refunded

0 100%1 90%2 75%

3-5 50%6+ 0%

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| User Experience Certificate Program

Program HighlightsThis program will prepare you for entering the field of user

experience as a strategist, designer, or program manager. You’ll

learn:

> Fundamentals of UX> Principles and methods of user research> Approach to information architecture

> Prototyping methods and tools> Usability testing and metrics> Basics of HTML and CSSWho Should Apply?Developers, designers, project managers, content creators, and

career changers who want to understand the principles, best

practices, processes and tools of user experience, and then develop

a portfolio to use in job searches.

How Long Does it Take?40 Weeks, if all classes are taken sequentially30 Weeks, if some classes are taken concurrentlyIs Advanced Placement Possible?

Yes. When you have your initial interview with your SVC certificate

program advisor, we’ll let you know if your previous course work or

practical experience entitles you to jump ahead on your course

track.

What Does it Cost?

$4,860 plus $100 registration fee

When is Tuition Due?A $100 registration fee is due upon acceptance into the program.

Then the first 50% of the tuition is due before the first day of class.

The remaining 50% is due at the mid-point of your program.

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| User Experience Certificate ProgramCourse TracksThis track typically starts fall quarter, but is also available for start

during other quarters. Students can take some classes concurrently

if they would like to finish the program in less time. Please ask your

SVC certificate program advisor for specifics.

Duration40 Weeks, if all classes are taken sequentially30 Weeks, if some classes are taken concurrentlyTuition$4,860 plus $100 registration fee

Fundamentals of UXFall, Winter, Spring, SummerWhat is UX; Why it Matters?

Core Principles of UX

Research OverviewPersonas and ScenariosUser Flows

Sketching and Storyboarding> UX Process Project

User ResearchFall, SpringContextual ObservationUser Interviews/Diary StudiesSurveys and Focus Groups

Card Sorts> Card Sort Project> Research Project

HTML & CSS - Level 1Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

TerminologyPage Structure

Basic Markup

Principles of CSS

DebuggingThe Dev Process

5-Week Class: Weeks 1-5

Info ArchitectureWinter

Ideation and BrainstormingCard Sort ReviewTaxonomies and Hierarchies

Navigation

Search

> Wireframe Project

> Low-Fi Prototype Project

Prototyping & TestingWinter

Prototyping MethodologiesWorking w/ Devs & Designers

Metrics for Success

Usability Testing> High-Fi Prototype Project

> Usability Test Project

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User Experience Mentorship - Minimum of one meeting per quarter with a top UX professional who will monitor your progress, suggest additional learning

resources, and assist you with industry networking.

Capstone ProjectSpringYou’ll develop a completeUX recommendation for a

real client using all

the skills gained in your

prior classes.

> Demo Project

5-Week Class: Weeks 6-10

5-Week Class: Weeks 1-5

Design & Prototyping ToolsFall, SpringAxure RPSketchOverview of alternative

prototyping tools

5-Week Class: Weeks 6-10

5-Week Class: Weeks 11-15 5-Week Class: Weeks 16-20 10-Week Class: Weeks 21-30

| UX: Fundamentals of User Experience

Order in UX Course Track: 1IntroductionAnyone who has ever been frustrated when they’re unable to easily

get something accomplished with an app or website (Ticketmaster,

we’re talking to you) has been a victim of a poor user experience.

Bad UX can cause the loss of a sale and, over time, it can erode

positive feelings a brand has been able to build (iTunes, we’re

talking to you). In a time when people expect a higher level of

service, utility, and enjoyment from their digital experiences, great

UX is more necessary than ever.DescriptionDesigning successful user experiences requires research,

teamwork, creative thinking, evaluation and iteration — exactly the

same methodologies that we’ll practice during this course. The goal

will be to give you experience working in collaborative teams, and

to develop an ability to apply UX fundamentals to your current and

future work. Each class session will include a lecture, a group

exercise, and a take-home activity as we emphasize hands-on

experience to help you master these topics:

> The purpose, theories, and processes of user experience

> Research and analysis

> Ideation and concept exploration

> Wireframes and Rapid Prototyping

> Usability Evaluation

> Becoming an advocate for user-centered design

Prerequisites

None

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| UX: User Research052016

Order in UX Course Track: 2

IntroductionIt’s hard to believe that there was once a time not so distant when

companies developed products, launched them into the

marketplace and then learned if customers would understand and

accept them. Now, thankfully, talking to prospective users comes

first so as many bugs as possible can be worked out in advance to

improve user satisfaction and the products’ chances for success. DescriptionUser research has become an essential skill in the user experience

discipline, as it helps us understand how real people use and

interact with our design solutions — and it also overcome our own

biases by letting us hear and observe people who aren’t like us. So,

in this class, we’ll investigate the many forms of user research,

understand their strengths and advantages, and experiment with

different research methodologies to get a first-hand feel for the art

and science of user research as we cover these topics and more:

> The role of research in the product development cycle

> Qualitative vs. quantitative and strategic vs. tactical research

> Heuristic evaluations and audits

> Conducting a competitor analysis

> Presenting your research findings

> Methods for card sorts and contextual interviews

Please note: This course does not cover usability testing in any

depth. That topic is covered extensively in the five-week course,

Prototyping and Testing.

Prerequisites

Must have taken Fundamentals of UX or by permission.

| UX: Information Architecture

Order in UX Course Track: 3IntroductionIt’s hard to argue that one part of user experience is more important

than another, but if the information architecture, or organization, of

a website or application is off-base, users aren’t going to find what

they’re looking for or accomplish what they came to your site or app

to do. Avoiding misfires, frustrated customers, and helping our

companies and clients get the best return on their digital

investments is what this class is all about.DescriptionThis class is about bringing logic, consistency, and order to the

sometimes many-headed beasts that are today’s websites and

apps. We’ll start by taking an in-depth look at these six components

of information architecture: structure, organization schemes,

labeling, search, navigation, and taxonomy/metadata. Then we’ll

give you the tools for evaluating IA using structural diagrams,

wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes to ensure that your

architecture makes sense and works for your site or app’s users.

We’ll also cover these points over the five weeks of the class:

> Essential logic and concepts you need to create useful, usable

architecture and experiences

> Understanding structured data and content

> Learn what kind of structures makes the most sense for user

and business goals

> Pros and cons of different types of organization schemes

> Designing search and logical taxonomies so information can be

easily found

> Documenting architecture via structural diagrams, site maps,

and content inventories

Prerequisites

Must have taken Fundamentals of UX and User Research or by

permission.

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| UX: Prototyping and Testing

Order in UX Course Track: 4IntroductionLet’s assume for a moment that you’ve come up with an incredible

idea for an app or website. It can’t miss. And yet, many do simply

because assumptions we make about how easy our design is to use

are completely lost on the consumer. The safety net in this phase of

introducing a new product, app, or site is the ability to make a

prototype that’s very close to the real thing and then ask potential

users to put it through its paces.DescriptionThe beauty of prototyping — especially today with the abundance

of tools available — is that it allows you to see quickly and cost-

effectively if there are major usability flaws in your design. So, in

this class, we’ll investigate methods for getting design insight as

early in the process as possible while covering these topics:

> Using low-fidelity, pen-and-paper prototyping to catch issues

and iterate

> Tools and materials for creating low- and high-fidelity

prototypes

> Testing prototypes vs. live products

> Working with developers in the creation of prototypes

> Usability testing best practices> Setting your metrics and reporting results

Prerequisites

Must have taken Fundamentals of UX, User Research, Information

Architecture or by permission

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| UX: Capstone ProjectOrder in UX Course Track: 5

IntroductionIt’s one thing to learn the parts and pieces that make up an area of

study, and quite another to put them all together in a coherent and

integrated application. In addition to creating a project with a broad

start-to-finish scope, the User Experience Capstone Project also

gives learners the opportunity to practice their skills at interviewing

clients, developing and making presentations, and — hopefully —

experiencing the final step of acceptance and success.

DescriptionThe 10-week Capstone Project in the User Experience certificate

program isn’t a class, in the sense of lectures, discussion, and

homework. Instead, you’ll work with a commercial enterprise, a

nonprofit or a community organization to help them solve a real

world problem with their website or other digital property. You’ll

work closely with your Capstone Project advisor, who will be a top

working professional from the user experience profession.

Whenever possible, your project will not be hypothetical or a

demonstration, but will be put into use by your nonprofit client.

Topics to be covered include:

> Conducting a client download and input session> Developing scope-of-work and creative brief documents

> Planning and conducting user research, information architecture,

wire framing, prototyping, and usability testing> Documenting your findings and recommendations

> Presenting recommendations to your pro bono client> Devising an implementation plan

Prerequisites

Must have taken Fundamentals of UX, User Research, Information

Architecture, Prototyping and Testing, or by permission

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| UX: HTML & CSSOrder in UX Course Track: At Learner’s Discretion

IntroductionCheck practically any career website and you’ll see literally

thousands of job postings that require knowledge of HTML. Some,

as you’d expect, are jobs for front-end developers or software

engineers. But a surprising number are for visual designers, web

production artists, and social media consultants. Since HTML and

CSS are the new table stakes in the digital world, this class will get

you in the game.

DescriptionIt's the rare job description that doesn't call for at least a passing

knowledge of how to code websites. Even if that’s not a

requirement for your work as a designer, it’s still very useful to

know the structure and terminology of HTML and CSS. To get you

familiar with all this, you’ll build your own simple site in this class.

So if your job (or the job you hope to have) requires you to know

how websites are built, we’ll start at square one as we cover these

topics:

> The basic structure of HTML, CSS

> Building page structure and navigation

> Preparing images for use on the web

> Using CSS to stylize and format webpages

> Coding techniques to improve a site’s performance on web

searches

> Overview of site hosting, FTP, and domains

Prerequisites

None

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| UX: UX and Prototyping ToolsOrder in UX Course Track: At Learner’s Discretion

IntroductionThe main tool successful UX professionals rely on is the one

between their ears. But, even the brainiest user experience

designers rely on a few well-chosen software tools. For wire-

framing, user flows, and creating interactive prototypes, Axure is

the tool we recommend. For mocking-up beautiful user interfaces,

Sketch is our go-to solution. In this class we’ll get you up-to-speed

and then some.

DescriptionIn this evening class you’ll get to know Axure and Sketch by

working with them on your own computer. With software in hand

(or on disk) we’ll then spend five weeks teaching you the basics and

beyond of these essential UX tools as we cover these topics and

more:

> The Axure interface and tools

> Creating site maps, user flows, and wireframes in Axure

> Building common interactive elements in Axure for a functional

prototype

> Using Axure for creating functional, interactive prototypes

> The Sketch interface: creating, selecting, moving, and resizing

content and layers

> Organizing your Sketch drawings with groups, artboards, and

hidden content

Prerequisites

None

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| Contact us for more information about SVC certificate programs.Contact:

Larry Asher or Linda Hunt, Co-Directors206 623 1560

info@svcseattle.com

www.svcseattle.com

School of Visual Concepts

2300 7th Avenue

Suite B

Seattle, WA 98121